South Africa grinds down Japan 26-3 to reach the Rugby World Cup semifinals against Wales

re was great shock this time, regardless of how much Japan threw at Springboks.

South Africa vanced to semifinals with a grinding 26-3 win over Japan on Sunday, bringing an end to home team’s exciting run at first Rugby World Cup std in Asia.

week-long hype over a potential repeat of Japan’s upset over South Africa at 2015 World Cup, so-called Miracle of Brighton, was muscled out of reality by a big Springboks lineup that stuck to its attritional game plan.

With a halftime score of 5-3 it was still anybody’s game. “epic moments” of Japan’s famous win four years ago were replayed on stium screen during break but it seemed only to remind South Africans of what was at stake in second half.

Handre Pollard landed three penalty goals from 44th to 64th minutes to extend margin to 14-3 before South Africans finally opened up.

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk scooted over in 66th after a powerful driving maul from Springboks h Japan on back foot, and Makazole Mapimpi ded his second try of match by finishing off a long-range movement in 70th to put result beyond doubt.

Captain Michael Leitch and his Japanese squ won millions of converts to sport for ir high-intensity brand of running rugby, beating Russia in tournament opener, upsetting Ireland and confirming top spot in group with victories over Samoa and Scotland.

But y weren’t able to cross South Africa’s line in what was ir first ever trip to kckout sts of tournament.

two-time champion Springboks are old pros at this end of tournament, improving to 5-2 in Rugby World Cup semifinals and setting up a meeting against Wales next Sunday for a place in final. England plays New Zealand in or semifinal.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved at World Cup, we’ll accept that, we’ll enjoy that a little later on,” Japan coach Jamie Joseph said. “But I’m really disappointed for players because y give so much to group and y give so much to country at this World Cup, I’m just a little disappointed.”

South Africans h to defend for most of first half, were a man down for 14 minutes and only h 30% of field position, but held ir composure despite a mounting tally of handling errors.

Springboks eventually me 140 tackles against 91 for Japan, stole four lineout throws and got possession and territory stats back to about even.

“ score did t really reflect how tough it was,” South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said. Springboks “were very determined, but Japanese team is well coached and y’re tough and y’re fit and y fight and y’ve got great support. At end of day we must be satisfied with win.”

Mapimpi gave South Africa a 5-0 le in 4th, easily beating an attempted tackle from Yu Tamuru on short side after a big shove from Springbok scrum and outpacing cover defense to left corner.

But Japan absorbed early pressure from a much bigger Springboks pack and started to take control when veteran South Africa prop Tendi Mtawarira was yellow-carded in 10th minute for a tip-tackle.

He immediately put his hands up to ackwledge mistake, but left his team with 14 men for next 10 minutes and Japan attacked relentlessly — even taking a scrum against he.

That led to Japan’s points, from a calmly taken penalty goal by Tamura in 20th minute.

Japan h done most of running in first half and went close after a Kenki Fukuoka surge on left wing, but wasn’t able to turn almost 70% of possession and territory into a try. South Africa crossed line twice but was called back, and h to regroup at halftime.

That hurt after break. Eventually battering took a toll on Japan side and possession and territory stats ended about even.

Japan team did a lap of Tokyo Stium, where die-hard fans stayed long after fulltime to celebrate ir team as it thanked m in a way that would rmally be reserved for victors.

Clusters of South Africa supporters in ir green jerseys also stayed in solidarity to salute Japan team long after Springboks h left field.